Hannah loves this baby Goblin

By Emma Sun
A PET horse would surely top every little girl’s birthday wish list.
That dream became reality for four-year-old Hannah Damen when her grandparents gave her an 85-centimetre tall miniature horse called Goblin for her birthday.
“I really like him,” Hannah said.
“I feed him carrots and I like to brush his mane and tail.”
Hannah, who lives in Tynong with her parents, doesn’t get much opportunity to see and take care of 19-year-old Goblin, as he stays with her grandparents on their Jindivick property of around five hectares. She makes the most of her time with the gorgeous miniature.
“When I go up there for sleepover I see him, most times it’s once a week,” Hannah said.
“I miss him when he’s gone.”
Something Hannah enjoys a lot is riding Goblin, and she tries to ride him whenever she can.
“I rode him in Yakkerboo last year,” she said.
“That was fun. I will ride him this year.”
She has also ridden him in local shows and miniature pony shows.
Hannah’s mum Karen said Hannah absolutely adored Goblin.
“She brushes him, and feeds him carrots and loves him to bits, and I think the feeling is quite mutual,” Ms Damen said.
“When she’s up (at her grandparents’ house) she takes him his food, usually some hay. She brushes him up because she knows she has to brush him before she rides him.”
Goblin was born in Ballarat on 8 December 1991 and was orphaned as a foal.
“He was sold at auction and has had six owners, including Hannah,” she said.
“For 18 years he was a led pony, it was only last year that he first had a saddle put on him, and Hannah started to ride him.”
Ms Damen said Goblin was such a gentle and lovely horse, and was a great companion for Hannah.
“He’s just the most beautiful placid pony, like a big, hairy black dog,” she said.
The love Hannah has for Goblin is obvious in the affection she continuously shows for him, and Hannah said she would love him no matter what.
“I have a pet at my house but I like my horse the best,” she said.